Re: [sig] Alcohol in Russia in the 10th and 11th century

Actually, thats what I wanted to chat about. My wife is an apothecaress in the society with a very respectable library of period english, german and arabic

Message 1 of 16
, Mar 29, 2013

0 Attachment

Actually, thats what I wanted to chat about. My wife is an apothecaress in the society with a very respectable library of period english, german and arabic sources, but thats the furthest east. I myself have a library of brewing book rapidly gaining respectability, including a great starter book on brewing herbs whose main value is steering me clear of tragedy, until my learning curve reaches equilibrium with my drive.
Russian and E.E. herbs were to be my next google search and book purchase this weekend! Imagine my surprise!
'dok

Halbrust-
Are you also a brewer? Sometime this coming month and into this summer I was going to integrate some experimental one gallon test batches of unhopped beer into my normal brewing schedule! Maybe we could collaborate, like a brewing double blind? I was planning ales for ease but lack a bread shed for natural yeasting. I would love to aid you in your research, which is very cool, and pursue my own passion for brewing.
'dok

Thank you to EVERYONE who replied!!! I will take your info and your sources into consideration as I continue my research.

The two main sources I have used so far are:
· Christian, David. 'Living Water' : Vodka and Russian Society on the Eve of Emancipation: Vodka and Russian Society on the Eve of Emancipation. Oxford University Press, 1990
· Smith, Robert EF and Christian, David. Bread and Salt: A Social and Economic History of Food and Drink in Rusia. Cambridge University Press, 1984

Very interesting summary. Where is you finding information on food and
rink? I know that others are interested.
I'm a little surprised on that early date on hopped beer. I realize that
t existed in the 11th century, but was it really that common? What's your
ource?
Is "privo" a misspelling for "pivo" (the modern word for beer)?

hanks for sharing this. I'll probably be begging you for an article for
lovo as well. :)
Paul

Per my research on alcohol in Russia in the 10th and 11th century:
� Kvas and mead were common drinks throughout the period
� Hopped beer was common in the 11th century
� Imported wine was drank, but it was a rarity
� Alcohol was taxed as early as the 11th century
� Med was the term for mead, as well as for honey
� Beer had many terms, and my sources do not overlap on terms
o Privo was the term for hopped beer (unsure if un-hopped beer had a
different name)
o Ol, oll, and olovina were hopped beers
o Siker is said to be a �virtual synonym� to ol, oll, and olovina (does
the word virtual possibly note that silker was un-hopped beer?)

If anyone can confirm or refute any of my findings, I would greatly
appreciate it. I will continue my research, but guidance is always a great
thing.